VELUX EHF Champions League club countdown: After their first appearance last season, HBC Nantes will now face top opponents in Group A in the Group Phase, and thanks to new arrival Kiril Lazarov, the French league runners-up want to upset the established order.

A second-year boost for Nantes?

After their first appearance last season, HBC Nantes will now face top opponents in Group A in the Group Phase, and thanks to new arrival Kiril Lazarov, the French league runners-up want to upset the established order.

Three questions before the new season

Can Nantes continue flying on the wings of success?

Over the previous five years HBC Nantes have formed a highly-competitive team including top signings such as Alberto Entrerrios (now assistant coach), Dominik Klein and now Kiril Lazarov. After making it to the final of the EHF Cup twice on home ground, their first Champions League season ended in a domestic Last 16 clash with eventual finalists PSG.

On home court, it was their most successful season ever, finishing second in the league and winning the French cup. The club now has the chance to rise further, facing top opponents such as Rhein-Neckar Löwen, FC Barcelona Lassa or defending champions HC Vardar. The knock-out stage is a realistic goal.

Do Nantes have the power to stand two top competitions in tandem?

The French league nowadays is among the top three national competitions in European club handball and the duels even with teams from the lower half of the ranking are more close and equal.

There is no chance to rest in those matches and to fully focus on the VELUX EHF Champions League so one of the most important things is rotation - and Nantes’ squad seems to be wide enough to stand the double heat.

Is the team ready for the new challenge?

The preparation was more than perfect: Nantes beat Veszprem, Berlin and several French and international teams in their pre-season. “We are something like world champions of test matches, but I am sure we can show the same level in the upcoming competitions,” said goalkeeper Cyril Dumoulin.

Under the spotlight: Kiril Lazarov

The Macedonian goal machine is eager to show that age does not matter at all. At 37-years-old, the two-time VELUX EHF Champions League top scorer is the new superstar at Nantes. With him, the attack of the French runners-up has boosted its quality.

The interesting fact will be whether coach Thierry Anti has to adapt his tactics to bring Lazarov in position to score, or if Lazarov will fit into the old tactics, mainly in terms of defence.

Self-esteem

Despite the new environment in group A, Nantes are full of confidence to at least repeat last season’s Champions League results.

“This is our first time in an A or B group,” said Nantes team captain Rock Feliho. “First, we’ll try to get out of the group-stage - last year we were in the Last 16 and I hope we’ll do it again this season and maybe going further.

“We face several teams which are candidates for the VELUX EHF FINAL4, but we are ambitious too.”

Club president Gael Pelletier hopes for the support from the stands. “All our opponents have more Champions League and FINAL4 experience than us. Every game will be a challenge for us, and our fantastic fans will hopefully appreciate those matches.”

Fun fact

Olivier Nyokas was the only Nantes player to become World Champion on home ground in January with France, but he is also joined by two players in the Nantes squad who also had the honour of winning the world championship at home: Spaniard Eduardo Gurbindo (2013) and German Dominik Klein (2007).

What the numbers say

Not many teams in the VELUX EHF Champions League have the opportunity to play in front of more than 10,000 fans but Nantes have it, thanks to the XXL Arena, which was the preliminary round venue for the French team in their home World Championship in January.

For selected matches, HBC Nantes use this arena, including the upcoming group phase match against Barcelona. This arena was the setting for the record attendance of the French league (11,019), when Nantes beat PSG in December 2016.